New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-12-21
MIR. HEWITT ON BABIES.
OFFICIALS VISIT RANDALL's ISLAND.


YouxpIIxGs AND GIVES SOME FxPERIENCFs
A big brown rat was squatting close in by the
~ou of the Randall's Island bOat-hOuse Yesterday
afternoon about o'clock
"Bangl" went a six pound cannon on the oppo-
site shore: the rat whisI,ed into a crcvice and
gang of striped men who were shovclllng snow
looked round in amazcmcnt.
Such were the accom-, ailments Of Mayor llew
tits triumphal entry to the Island. Ed"
Monaghan, Of the Sous Of Solid Rest" boat
house and lounging-rOon. who owns the cannon.
and John Smith who fired it. looked through
the clearing smoke and were gratGcd to an
overloaded boatful OF magnatcs in high hats
webbing IN mldStream.
The Mayor sat in the stern and looked so just
for a moment before the full significance of the
canncns opening roar dawncd upon him. lie
WAS assured that the shot wasn't aimed at him:
and finally consented TO be gratiicd Ills COM
panons on board the boat were Henry X. Beck
man, president Of the Board of Aldermen. and
Michael Coleman. president Of the Department
IF Taxes and Assessments. who were with him
as members Of the Board Of Estimate and Appor-
tonmcnt; Charles " Adee. secretary Of that
Board: and Commissioners Simmons. Porter and
Brennan and Colonel Charles II. Ilaswcl. of
the Department of Charities and Correction.
WHY HE XrEDIrIoN HOOK PLACE.
The Commissioners Of Charities and Correction
put i'll large rcQuisitiOn for sums to cXpcnd on
improvement and enlargement of buildings on the
Island, and the object of the Board of Estimate
in visiting the Island WAS to ascertain whether
the Commissioners were not asking too much. All
the figures have been already published III ! HE
TRIBUNE
A liHc of reporters greeted the Mayor when he
landed. lie seemed little surprised but not
overwhelmed
UIaph. You're on dccll!" auoth he.
Dr.. }. NJ lcaly, the medical Superintendent of
Randaus Island also waiting for him q
show him around. and under his guidance the
Mayer managed IN the course of two hours to be
everywhere by turns and nowhere long.
Mayor Hewitt is SO thorough Inspector
to Lc aim, st an inau.stor. lie started out in a
most business like way. lnlIng poor Dr. licaly
with Keen, cutting questions TIL Commissioner
Snu.oiS had 10 come 10 ms rescue. liIc I'M
b,clir and hospital department :. winch thc Com
nlss.olicis axe COMPLAINING Ct as oNcrorowdrd
Wcrc the first visited. !hcro ar some twenty
u nc idiot men and women on Tia. Island. and
ABOUT &oi ho>U al PATIENTS The { ma 49, Uucr,
maintain that If the former class there are hitv
or sixty more than there Is proper accommodate -
for. and of the la,trr from SHY to eighty Wnll
the Mayor did mt want to know about both
class and their housing was not worth knowing.
sQrAEE AN>wl Il 70 STRAIGHT QUESTION.
lie careful TO ascertain that the idiot
children were not allowed to minslc with these
in fail poss Ssion Of their faculties In ms cross
examination Of DR.. Ilealy oil that and other
points he several times nearly lost las temper.
Can you give M IA square answer To Il Straight
question: hc asked once.
L. was relief for everybody to visit the found
ing hospital after seeing the poor 'aalct Ircs 81
human " IN the imbocilc department. The
Mayor blosSomcd right out like hawthorn tree
in May. 1t sight to hu am,n- the
babies There are % babies in all. OF many
SIS. About twenty-five Of them are foundiiuis.
me mothers Of the others are ~ the hospital
with them. and each is rcQu rcd TO nurse an or
phan IN addition 10 her own baby. Miss NJ. A.
Sheridan. the supervisor Of the trained nurses.
took the MAYOR from cot to cot and INTRODUCED
him to every baby Of note He gave himself -
to the 5abi,S He leaned oyer them and artIcs>h
.r:ittlcl to them. He held his l!g gold watch to
their tiny cars. and lie told stories.
WHAT! 50 Toys or R,Tr1rs,
Don't YOU use soothing s.rup?7 he asked
had baby that cried for three nights
bought some soothing syrup and the baby wen
nicely TO sleep and woke up all right was
offered thousand dollars for the use OF mi
name in an adNcrisem' mt. but declined"
Again. aprOpos of foundngs: just after NV
first baby was born. heard "A nois. down St,
one night. We found making an examination
That pretty baby had been left in basket at
~" door. and con lndcd t. keep IL There
was an old woman who used to hang about the
kitchen who always showed great interest in the
chi d: and finally she confessed that She knew It's
mother; 50 We gave it to its proper carc-takcrS.
were l"fi at our door one child month, 50 we
had to give il upi"
What, haven't YOU any toys for the babies p
asked the Mayor Of Miss Sheridan as he saw a
"trllcd' look steal over the face Of mite who
was listening to the tick OF ms watch.
No. we haven't
No rttlrS even p
No, no rattlcS'
NO rattlcs!" exclaimed the Mayor in tones Of
he dccrcst sympathy NO rattlcsl Too badl
Too bad and he walked pcnsivciy away.